Author's note: Details in this story (particularly in this chapter) are inspired by Magneto Testament.

"Erik, darling, thank you so much for breakfast. I wish I had all day with you."

"I wish that too. I wish I could stay with my wife and daughter all day. Oh, my dear Magda, if I could I would. But I must go to work. Providing for my family is what I live for."

"I love you, Erik."

"I love you, Magda. I have to leave now."

Erik kissed Magda's forehead and left. Magda moved Anya to a blanket on the floor with a little doll and began her housework. While she worked, she talked to Anya. She had heard it would help the baby learn to speak. Whether that was true or not, she liked it. Talking to Anya gave her something nice to think about while doing her housework.

"Now Mama has to straighten the living room. Papa did something very nice this morning, Anya. Papa made breakfast for Mama today. Oh, my precious daughter, I hope you someday marry a kind gentleman who will do nice things for you. Someday you'll be big enough to taste your Papa's cooking. He's a very good cook, Anya. You have a very talented Papa. He's strong, he's a good cook, and very smart too. He loved to read when he was a boy. That's how he learned so much. I hope you like to read someday. Then you can be smart like your Papa."

Magda knew Anya wasn't understanding a word she said, but she continued talking anyway.

"You have a talented Mama too, if I do say so myself. I hope you learn some of my talents too. I always loved to sing and dance. Papa can't dance very well. I hope you learn your dancing from me."

Magda began twirling and whistling as she cleaned. Though she knew Anya didn't know what was going on, she imagined Anya's coos and laughter as interaction with her.

"You think that's funny, Anya?" Magda said with delight as she crawled on the floor next to her daughter. "You have a funny Mama, don't you?" she said, making a funny face at her baby. Anya cooed and laughed. "Where's Mama?" she would say as she hid her face behind her hands. "Here I am!" Magda loved her baby's smile and laughter. "Well, Anya, Mama has to get back to her chores. I want to have enough time to make Papa a good dinner. I'll make his favorite to thank him for breakfast."

Magda finished her chores and started making Erik's favorite meal. While it cooked, she decided to change her dress and do her hair up. She knew Erik thought she was beautiful regardless, but she wanted to look special for their evening together. She lit some candles and set the table with their white table cloth.

"One final touch," Magda said as she opened the box on her vanity. She pulled out the necklace and looked at it before putting it on. That necklace represented so much for her. She hoped it meant as much to Erik.

Magda heard the car pull in the driveway. "Anya, Papa's here!"

"Magda, I'm home!"

"Hello, darling. Anya and I missed you."

Erik kissed his wife and daughter before stopping to really look at Magda. He was stunned. She looked absolutely beautiful. More so than usual. He always found her absolutely beautiful. But he could tell she had gotten dressed up special.

"Magda, you look so beautiful. How did I win such a beautiful wife?"

"You notice anything about me?"

Erik looked her over, trying to figure out what it was. His secret ability helped him out: he sensed something metal on her neck. She didn't usually wear much jewelry. He was filled with emotion when he noticed the necklace his wife was wearing.

"Magda, your necklace. I didn't know you still had that."

"Of course I do, Erik. You remember when you gave me this?"

"Of course. I remember making it."

Magda was pleased Erik still remembered it.

"How old were we then?"

"Only nine. And I already knew you were the girl for me."

"I knew you were the boy I wanted. I didn't know you liked me. Why would a boy like you be interested in me, a Gypsy girl, daughter of the school cleaner? To this day I don't know why you were crazy enough to choose me, but I'm very glad you did."

"You didn't know I liked you? You were the reason I tried so hard to do well in sports. I always did my best hoping you'd see me. And I saved every interesting looking scrap of metal I came across to add it to this necklace."

"This necklace saved my life. I wore it throughout everything. It always reminded me of you. It reminded me that I had something worth living for."

"It reminded me of the same thing. Oh, Magda, the only joy I experienced while in the camps was seeing that necklace, and realizing that girl I saw really was you. You were still alive. I hated the guards for keeping you there. You didn't deserve to be in that horrid place. But I was overjoyed to know you were still alive. I knew I could keep myself alive for you."

Magda and Erik teared up and embraced each other thinking of that day in the camp. They both remembered the moment their eyes met and they each realized the other had not died. Neither of them had remaining family members, but seeing each other gave them both the hope they needed to continue living. There had been so much pain in Auschwitz. Grief, fear, anger, horror, and pain filled the experience. In that moment, however, there was a bittersweet joy shared between Erik and Magda. Joy to see the other alive, pain from knowing their best friend was suffering the same fate as them.

Magda spoke again once they broke their embrace. "Darling, I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"It's almost on the table. I made your favorite."

"And I see you lit candles and put out the table cloth. Is it my birthday?"

"No."

"Well, it's not our anniversary. Why go through this trouble?"

"It's no trouble for the man I love."

Erik smiled. "You're just trying to one-up me for breakfast. I didn't know I had married such a competitive gal," he said with a wink.

"Well, I'm full of surprises."

"I like your surprises."

"Then sit. It will be ready in a minute."

Magda smiled knowing her surprise had succeeded in making her husband happy. Erik smiled knowing the wife he loved so dearly felt the same about him.